In 1963, Mike Redd, was the first African American named Kentucky Mr. Basketball. As an 8th grader, he scored 25 points in a varsity game, and helped take his Seneca High School team to the regional tournaments in 1961 and 1962. With his leadership his team won the 1963 KHSAA State Tournament with Redd averaging 26.5 points during the tournament.
Mike Redd played college ball at Kentucky Wesleyan for one year, averaging 20.7 points and 6.8 rebounds. He played a season at Sullivan Business College in Louisville before joining the U.S. Marines, serving during the Vietnam War. Redd also played basketball while in the service and helped his team win two AAU Men’s Basketball Championships: 1969 Armed Forces All-Stars and the 1970 Armed Forces All-Stars.
After his enlistment was completed, Redd remained in Europe and played basketball in France for about a decade, then started a basketball school in Austria. Mike Redd spoke several languages. When he returned to the United States, Redd, a chef, bought restaurants in San Jose, CA and Nashville, TN.